American Federation of Government Employees Local 2113

The Union Vote and You
What are your Rights?

What can you expect during the representational election?
The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is conducting an election to determine whether the bargaining unit employees of NAWCTSD wish to be represented by AFGE Local 2113. The election will be conducted by mail. The FLRA will mail eligible employees a mail ballot package from their office in Atlanta Georgia on Monday, January 28, 2002. Employees must then mark a secret ballot and return it in the designated envelope to the FLRA by February 28, 2002 to have your vote count. It is very important that all FLRA directions are followed exactly.

Management must maintain neutrality regarding an employees decision to form, join or assist our union. However, this does not prevent management from doing things, i.e.; awards, time off, etc. to make the employees content with the status quo, and therefore, less likely to vote for continued representation.

Under the law, management has the right to correct the record during an organizing campaign. This means if the Union was to misrepresent itself or the facts, that Management would have the right to make remarks to correct the record. AFGE Local 2113 has striven to provide factual information to the employees we represent. We want you to support our Union, and we encourage you to question any information you do not understand.

Employees can talk about the election during duty hours.
Employees have the right to talk about many issues at work, such as, local and national news events, television programs, friends and family events, etc. The only rule to remember is that the employees involved in the discussion may not interrupt their work to engage in the conversation. Employees working next to each other can continue to work and engage in any one of the above conversations.

This vote is your opportunity to express your choice or you may choose not to participate. If the majority of voters vote "YES" for representation, AFGE Local 2113 will continue to represent all employees in a fair and equitable manner as we have for the past twelve years.

Voting YES for the Union does NOT obligate you to join or to pay dues.
Whether you are a Union member or not, you still enjoy the benefits and provisions of the Labor Management contract AFGE Local 2113 has already negotiated. Just as important, our Union continues to fight for employee pay and benefits in Congress. Our AFGE National Office has legislative specialists and political lobbyists who help our representatives in Congress draft language containing pay and benefit provisions favorable to all Federal Employees.

The Union can negotiate on a multitude of issues affecting working conditions. Some working conditions AFGE Local 2113 is currently involved in negotiating address your right to fair and equitable treatment in merit promotion (Resumix), transportation subsidies, facility changes, telework, and new contract provisions covering Police Officers.

Congress states that labor organizations are in the public interest.
Congress further states that labor organizations help facilitate and encourage the amicable settlement of disputes between employees and their employers involving conditions of employment (5 U.S.C. 7101) by requiring an arbitration hearing as the final step of the grievance procedure. The arbitrator is required to render an impartial, final and binding decision with regard to an employees complaint. Employees have much more confidence in a decision that is made by a neutral party NOT associated with the employer or the Union.

It is impossible to list all of the rights that you now enjoy because of Union representation. You can find many of them in the Labor Management Agreement available on- line. Without a Union, management is able to make decisions regarding personnel policies and procedures without considering the impact on employees. With Union representation, Management has to negotiate a mutual agreement that addresses your concerns.

Without a voice, employees have no control over their working lives. The strength of a Union comes from the full involvement and participation of the employees it represents.

With a Union, employees can address almost any issues that come along.
With a Union, employees can be a part of the effort to provide the best possible service.

THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AFGE LOCAL 2113  WORKING FOR YOU

Further links:
Union response to Learn the Truth flier of 11 Apr 2001.
Union response to Your Right to Vote email from TSDvote@aol.com
Union response to Anonymous Email